An AOG Romance...

It has to happen at least once during every Olympic Games ... that true love starts to bloom.  And certainly at the AOG, we've had some great love stories evolve...but none better than this one between the two stars of Team Giant Swallowtail.  Ted took one look at Teddi as she was practicing her nectar-snogging, and his heart (or the butterfly version thereof) beat a bit faster.  He commenced doing his fanciest of moves for her.  At first, she ignored him, intent on her own routine...but eventually the pair left the lobelia patch to soar high above the gardens in the clear blue sky, doing their dance of love.  Alas, as is often the case with world-class athletes, both eventually had to return to the arena to practice for their competitions.  

(In actuality, I've never seen Giant Swallowtails engaged in courtship so I was running madly all over the yard, following them with my camera.  Hubs came out to see what I was doing, saw me running back and forth, shook his head, and returned to the air conditioned house.  Smart man, hubs.As for me, 10 minutes later with over 300 photos and a major sweat, I was grinning ear to ear.)

It was another scathingly hot day so some of the events had to be cancelled, but Team Hummie continued to zoom around the stadium, barking squeaking out orders to one another.  Team Cidada sent their Diva in to audition for the closing ceremonies and she sang Dog Days of Summer in a most beguiling way.  The Metallic Green Sweat Bees continued to practice their 2- mm aerial sprints and nearly all of the starting line of up Team Cat have successfully transitioned to their Chrysalis Phase.  The race is on to see who can become a Monarch first.  
In slightly more ominous news...Team Yellow Jacket, currently under investigation for doping, didn't help their case one bit when their team captain was seen blowing bubbles while singing rap songs.  The whole thing is a bit of an embarrassment, I'm afraid.

I'll be out at one of the remote stadiums tomorrow, joining my naturalist group.  I'm taking along a contingent of 2nd and 3rd instar monarch caterpillars who will be moving into a training camp in south Jersey.  They are very excited, although a little sorry to leave their mates behind. But their new trainer has promised them unlimited fresh milkweed from his garden, so they are fully committed to the move.

Please take a moment to check out today's events at #AOG15 - you won't be disappointed!  And remember, it's not to late to join in.  Our Alternative Olympic Games will be underway through the 20 August, with closing ceremonies on the 21.  All non-human athletes are welcome!

Signing off from broiling New Jersey...
Debbi